Having jetted into London with his wife for work, Prince Harry was already in the UK just days before the Queen's health began to fail, but the late monarch would take her last breath without her grandson ever saying goodbye.
His father, now King Charles III, had invited Harry, 38, and the Duchess of Sussex, 41, to stay at Birkhall, just a stone's throw from Balmoral Castle, where the Queen passed away. However, the duo refused the offer at the time, choosing instead to base themselves at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
Insiders reveal Harry's main reasoning was the fact he and Meghan needed to be closer to London's airports, given they had business in Germany too, but he also wasn't interested in breaking bread with his 73-year-old father at that point.
Now Harry is said to be riddled with regret for letting his pride get in the way. Ultimately, his decision robbed him of one final meeting with his beloved grandmother.
"It has been rough on Harry - he'll never forgive himself for not going to see her before she died, even though his father invited him and Meghan to come up to Scotland while they were in the UK," a palace insider tells Woman's Day.
"He's devastated that he didn't make it to Balmoral in time to say goodbye. They didn't get a lot of forewarning that she was about to pass, and Harry didn't have the same urgent transport privileges of his brother and uncles."
Tragically, Harry was pictured looking devastated as he arrived at Balmoral 90 minutes after Buckingham Palace announced the Queen had peacefully passed at age 96.
Further highlighting the gulf between Harry's family and the rest of the royals, Prince William, in his statement about his granny's death, told the world of his gratitude that "my three children have got to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives."
Denne historien er fra September 26, 2022-utgaven av Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
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Denne historien er fra September 26, 2022-utgaven av Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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